# Numbers 11 đ: Complaints and Quail
[[đ Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-Numbers Overview]] | [[Numbers 10]] | [[Numbers 12]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Israelites Complain
[[#Verse 01.]] When the people complained, it displeased the Lord. When the Lord heard it, his anger burned, and so the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outer parts of the camp.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] When the people cried to Moses, he prayed to the Lord, and the fire died out.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So he called the name of that place Taberah because there the fire of the Lord burned among them.
### Complaints about Food
[[#Verse 04.]] Now the mixed multitude who were among them craved more desirable foods, and so the Israelites wept again and said, âIf only we had meat to eat!Â
[[#Verse 05.]] We remember the fish we used to eat freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!âÂ
[[#Verse 07.]]Â (Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.Â
[[#Verse 08.]]Â And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it with mills or pounded it in mortars; they baked it in pans and made cakes of it. It tasted like fresh olive oil.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] And when the dew came down on the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.)
### Mosesâ Complaint to the Lord
[[#Verse 10.]] Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] And Moses said to the Lord, âWhy have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, âCarry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,â to the land that you swore to their fathers?Â
[[#Verse 13.]] From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, âGive us meat, that we may eat!âÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!Â
[[#Verse 15.]] But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.â
### The Response of God
[[#Verse 16.]] The Lord said to Moses, âGather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the Spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it all by yourself.
[[#Verse 18.]] âAnd say to the people, âSanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, âWho will give us meat to eat, for life was good for us in Egypt?â Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,Â
[[#Verse 20.]] but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick, because you have despised the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, âWhy did we ever come out of Egypt?âââ
[[#Verse 21.]] Moses said, âThe people around me are 600,000 on foot; but you say, âI will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.âÂ
[[#Verse 22.]] Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?âÂ
[[#Verse 23.]] And the Lord said to Moses, âIs the Lordâs hand shortened? Now you will see whether my word to you will come true or not!â
[[#Verse 24.]] So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. He then gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tabernacle.Â
[[#Verse 25.]] And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but did not do so again.
### Eldad and Medad
[[#Verse 26.]] But two men remained in the camp; oneâs name was Eldad, and the otherâs name was Medad. And the Spirit rested on them. (Now they were among those in the registration, but had not gone to the tabernacle.) So they prophesied in the camp.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] And a young man ran and told Moses, âEldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!âÂ
[[#Verse 28.]] Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his choice young men, said, âMy lord Moses, stop them!âÂ
[[#Verse 29.]] Moses said to him, âAre you jealous for me? I wish that all the Lordâs people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!âÂ
[[#Verse 30.]]Â Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.
### Provision of Quail
[[#Verse 31.]] Now a wind went out from the Lord and brought quail from the sea, and let them fall near the camp, about a dayâs journey on this side, and about a dayâs journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet high on the surface of the ground.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] And the people stayed up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered ten homers, and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.Â
[[#Verse 33.]] But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague.
[[#Verse 34.]] So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people that craved different food.Â
[[#Verse 35.]]Â The people traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah to Hazeroth, and they stayed at Hazeroth.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Taberah means "burning," named for the fire of the Lord that burned among them (11:3).
2. The craving began with the "rabble" or mixed crowd among Israel (11:4; Exodus 12:38).
3. The people remembered fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic from Egypt (11:5).
4. Manna was like coriander seed and tasted like something made with olive oil (11:7-8).
5. God shared the Spirit that was on Moses with seventy elders (11:25).
6. Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp even though they had stayed behind (11:26).
7. Joshua's protest and Moses' answer (11:28-29) are echoed when Jesus tells John not to stop someone working in His name (Mark 9:38-40).
8. The quail were spread about two cubits deep around the camp (11:31).
9. The person who gathered the least gathered ten homers (11:32), a huge amount.
10. Kibroth Hattaavah means "graves of craving" (11:34).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true bread from heaven. Israel grew tired of manna (11:6), but Jesus is the bread of life who satisfies forever (John 6:32-35). Moses longed for the Spirit on all God's people (11:29), and Christ poured out His Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:17).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. The people remembered Egypt's food but forgot its slavery (11:5). How does complaining distort our memory?
2. Moses told God the burden was too heavy for him alone (11:14). What does God's answer in 11:16-17 teach about leadership?
3. God asked, "Is the Lord's hand too short?" (11:23). Where do you need to trust that God is able?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verses 4-6: The people crave meat and despise the manna.
- đ verse 23: The Lord asks if His power is limited.
- đ verse 29: Moses wishes all the Lord's people were prophets with His Spirit.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Psalm 78#Verse 26.|Psalm 78:26-31]] - God gave them what they craved.
- đ [[1 Corinthians 10#Verse 06.|1 Corinthians 10:6]] - Do not crave evil things as they did.
- đ [[John 06#Verse 32.|John 6:32-35]] - Jesus is the bread of life.
- đ [[Acts 02#Verse 17.|Acts 2:17-18]] - God pours out His Spirit on all people.
- đ [[Exodus 18#Verse 17.|Exodus 18:17-23]] - Jethro counsels Moses to share the load.
## đ Devotional Reflection
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đ Internal Notes